How to Approach a Divorce Settlement

By
Hopper Law Firm, PLLC
|December 03, 2013

Most divorces will end in a settlement, not in some dramatic courtroom
setting. And that is good news, as this gives most couples the chance
to end things amicably and quickly. If you are going to get a
divorce, you should probably start getting ready for the settlement meeting or
meetings. These meetings are when you, your soon-to-be ex, and each of
your lawyers come together to negotiate a divorce settlement. You get
to come up with the terms of the divorce for yourselves instead of leaving
these major decisions in the hands of a judge who would only have a short
time to get briefly acquainted with your situation. Of course, if these
negotiations fall through, then to a trial you would go. So to save yourself
from divorce trial and to save yourself time in hammering out the settlement,
here are some tips to be ready for this meeting.

1) First off, this is not the time to lay your feelings bare. You do not
want any vitriol or complaints to take over the meeting. Of course, there
is a time and place for expressing feelings, but a legal meeting is certainly
not that place. The settlement is the way you and your ex would create
new futures for yourselves. It would be detrimental to keep bringing up
painful memories. No matter the reason for your divorce, remember that
it is business at this point. Treat the settlement meeting like a business meeting.

2) And you will further have to be open and flexible. It is important to
understand from the get-go that there is no true victory in a divorce,
and that includes the fact that you will not be able to get every stipulation
into the settlement that you would like to. It is in your best interests
then to be a good listener, and to realize that negotiating might have
to start with you making the first step toward a compromise. Your ex might
then be more willing to do the same for you.

3) You also should feel free to take all the time you need. While one of
the many perks of a settlement is that it saves you time, do not be so
frugal with this time that you rush through an agreement that can affect
you for the rest of your life. If there is a stipulation or law that you
do not fully understand, do not hesitate to ask your lawyer about it.
Whenever you have questions, you should not leave them unasked. If necessary,
you should even ask for a break, giving you time to mull over this important
settlement.

It is important to realize that a settlement could take more than one meeting
to finish, but this will not be a waste of time. It would still be shorter
than a trial, and as long as meetings are used productively, you are moving
closer to your future. When you need to forge an independent future for
yourself through this legal process, it would be invaluable to have a
legal expert looking after your best interests.

If negotiations fall through, however, you will further need a lawyer on
your side who can successfully handle your case in court. You can find
the committed and skilled Raleigh divorce lawyer you need at Hopper Law
Firm, PLLC, PLLC. Our legal team has years of experience helping our clients
achieve fair results in
child custody,
property division, support payments, and more, and we aim to do our utmost in helping clients
resolve these matters as peaceably and swiftly as possible. Whatever the
issue you face in family law, you can find the expertise you need at our
firm. Do not hesitate to
contact us today!

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